February 10, 2017

Plantagenet Palliser for President!

... He could afford to learn to be a statesman, and had the industry wanted for such training. ... He was not a brilliant man, and understood well that such was the case. He was now listened to in the House, as the phrase goes; but he was listened to as a laborious man, who was in earnest in what he did, who got up his facts with accuracy, and who, dull though he was, was worthy of confidence. And he was very dull. He rather prided himself on being dull, and on conquering in spite of his dullness. He never allowed himself a joke in his speeches, nor attempted even the smallest flourish of rhetoric. He was very careful in his language, labouring night and day to learn to express himself with accuracy, with no needless repetition of words... He had taught himself to believe that oratory, as oratory, was a sin against that honesty in politics by which he strove to guide himself. He desired to use words for the purpose of teaching things which he knew and which others did not know; and he desired also to be honoured for his knowledge. But he had no desire to be honoured for the language in which his knowledge was conveyed. ... It is the trust which such men inspire which makes them so serviceable.

from Can You Forgive Her?, by Anthony Trollope

Hmmm. By Chapter 28, we're not so sure about him as a husband, but this made me smile.

1 comment:

Love this! I'm finally up to Chapter 28 now, will finish it on my walk this morning. My daughter left mid-week, brother arrived a few days later, and now we have a few days off before my sister/BIL fly in on Saturday. I swear we see more of my family in FL than at home ;-)